Way Too Early 2026 NFL Draft Mock: Arch Manning No. 1 Overall?

The 2025 NFL Draft is now in the rearview mirror, so it is time to turn our attention to the 2026 class.

What quarterbacks might go near the top of the 2026 NFL Draft?

Which teams might need those quarterbacks?

Which defensive players could crash the party?

Only time will tell, but here is how things look a year out from the 2026 NFL Draft.

*Draft order determined by projected win totals

2026 Mock Draft Prediction:

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1. Cleveland Browns, 2026 Draft Pick Prediction: Arch Manning, QB, Texas

Projected Win Total: 4.5

Even though the Browns drafted two quarterbacks, one of whom happened to be Shadeur Sanders, they did not spend even a second round pick on either, showing they don’t believe either is a starting level quarterback in the NFL.

So if Manning does declare, which is a big if at this moment, the Browns would not hesitate to add him to an already crowded quarterback room.

2. New York Giants, 2026 Draft Pick Prediction: Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami

Projected Win Total: 5.5

The Giants made an aggressive move to jump back into the first round to select Jaxson Dart, and he projects to be their starter in 2026.

They now need to focus on protecting him.

New York has already declined the option for Evan Neal.

3. New York Jets, 2026 Draft Pick Prediction: LaNorris Sellers, QB, South Carolina

Projected Win Total: 5.5

Justin Fields only signed a two-year deal with 30 million guaranteed, so if the Jets are picking as high as their projected win total suggests, they certainly will be in the quarterback market.

Sellers could easily be QB1 if he continues to develop at the rate many believe he will.

4. Tennessee Titans, 2026 Draft Pick Prediction: T.J. Parker, EDGE, Clemson

Projected Win Total: 5.5

With their franchise quarterback secured, the Titans can now look to bolster their defense, specifically their pass rush.

Both of their projected starting defensive ends will be free agents in 2026.

5. New Orleans Saints, 2026 Draft Pick Prediction: Garrett Nussmeier, QB, LSU

Projected Win Total: 6.5

This is a very obvious connection as the current Saints offensive coordinator, Doug Nussmeier, is Garrett's father.

So, even though the Saints did draft Tyler Shough, I don’t think that would make them pass on the more talented product from down the road at LSU.

6. Carolina Panthers, 2026 Draft Pick Prediction: Peter Woods, DL, Clemson

Projected Win Total: 6.5

After missing out on Milton Williams and potentially Mason Graham, the Panthers land the consensus best defensive lineman in this class.

Per PFF, Woods is both the highest-graded and most valuable returning Power Four defensive tackle, according to their wins above average metric.

7. Las Vegas Raiders, 2026 Draft Pick Prediction: Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State

Projected Win Total: 6.5

Downs may be the most talented player in the entire class, ranking No. 1 on most big boards.

However, playing at a non premium position will most likely push him down the draft further than his talent suggests.

Still, Las Vegas should run the card in if he were to fall to them.

8. Indianapolis Colts, 2026 Draft Pick Prediction: Cade Klubnik, QB, Clemson

Projected Win Total: 7.5

Klubnik was a highly touted five star recruit coming out of high school but did not have the early success in his career many expected.

However, he seemed to start putting everything together last year.

He tied for the most touchdown passes in the country and was eighth in passing yards.

9. New England Patriots, 2026 Draft Pick Prediction: Rueben Bain Jr, EDGE, Miami

Projected Win Total: 7.5

The Patriots made a lot of additions to their roster that should make an immediate impact, but they could still use a top end pass rusher.

Bain's 73 pressures since 2023 are third among returning Power Four edge defenders, while his 16.9% pass-rush win rate is fourth.

10. Cleveland Browns (From Jaguars), 2026 Draft Pick Prediction: Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama

Whether the Browns land Arch Manning or not, they will need to address their offensive line in the 2026 draft.

Jack Conklin is currently set to be a free agent after this season.

Proctor is a massive human at 6-foot-7, 370 pounds, and has been starting at Alabama since his freshman year.

11. Los Angeles Rams (From Falcons), 2026 Draft Pick Prediction: Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee

Surprisingly, the Rams did not address their secondary at all in the 2025 draft.

McCoy is coming off an injury but should return for a good portion of this upcoming season and be all systems go come draft time.

12. Dallas Cowboys, 2026 Draft Pick Prediction: Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame

Projected Win Total: 7.5

While it was rumored the Cowboys were interested in Ashton Jeanty, they do get the best running back in the 2026 draft.

Per PFF, Love was the second-most-valuable back in the nation, according to their wins above average metric, while his 91.0 overall grade was fifth.

13. Seattle Seahawks, 2026 Draft Pick Prediction: Spencer Fano, OT, Utah

Projected Win Total:7.5

The Seahawks were wise to invest in the offensive line with their first pick this year, and they should go back to the well again in 2026.

Abe Lucas is a pending free agent, and the line as a whole could still use an upgrade.

14. Pittsburgh Steelers, 2026 Draft Pick Prediction: Drew Allar, QB, Penn State

Projected Win Total: 8.5

As of this moment, we still don’t know who will be the Steelers' starting quarterback in 2025, never mind 2026.

Like Klubnik, Allar was a five star recruit who didn’t get off to the start some had hoped, but he had a very encouraging 2024 season.

If he stays on this trajectory, he can be in the mix for QB1.

15. Minnesota Vikings, 2026 Draft Pick Prediction: DJ McKinney, CB, Colorado

Projected Win Total: 8.5

Many thought the Vikings would either go secondary or trade out with their first pick in the 2025 draft, but instead they stayed put and went with the offensive line.

Based on their current roster and contracts, the secondary should be the No. 1 priority in the 2026 draft.

16. Arizona Cardinals, 2026 Draft Pick Prediction: CJ Allen, LB, Georgia

Projected Win Total: 8.5

The next in line of great Georgia linebackers, Allen will finally get his chance in a featured role and should have a similar draft ascension as his former teammate Jalon Walker.

17. Miami Dolphins, 2026 Draft Pick Prediction: Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson

Projected Win Total: 8.5

Whether or not Jalen Ramsey is still on the roster, the Dolphins need to address the secondary, and the younger brother of A.J. Terrell would be a nice addition.

18. Chicago Bears, 2026 Draft Pick Prediction: Keldric Faulk, EDGE, Auburn

Projected Win Total: 8.5

Chicago made a huge investment on offense this offseason, both through the draft and free agency, so defense will most likely be the priority in 2026.

19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 2026 Draft Pick Prediction: Dani Dennis-Sutton, EDGE, Penn State

Projected Win Total: 9.5

Tampa Bay made somewhat of a surprise pick going with a wide receiver in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft.

Many expected either an edge or a linebacker.

Dennis-Sutton really came on last season and will start to get more recognition now that Abdul Carter is gone.

20. Houston Texans, 2026 Draft Pick Prediction: Isaiah World, OT, Oregon

Projected Win Total: 9.5

After trading away Laremy Tunsil, the Texans are lacking high end talent along their offensive line.

World was the No. 1 player in the transfer portal and is heading to Oregon.

He could fill that void.

21. Green Bay Packers, 2026 Draft Pick Prediction: LT Overton, DL, Alabama

Projected Win Total: 9.5

Overton was a top 15 five star recruit out of high school who got off to a bit of an underwhelming start to his career at Texas A&M.

It seems like his transfer to Alabama last season rejuvenated his career, and his size and athleticism should put him squarely in Round 1 if he continues to develop this season.

22. Denver Broncos, 2026 Draft Pick Prediction: Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State

Projected Win Total: 9.5

Another team that surprised us with their first round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, the Broncos could look to add another weapon to their offense.

Tate is in line to have a big season at Ohio State.

23. Los Angeles Chargers, 2026 Draft Pick Prediction: Caleb Banks, DL, Florida

Projected Win Total: 9.5

The interior defensive line could use an upgrade as is.

That, coupled with the fact that the majority of them on the roster are set to be free agents in 2026, makes this a priority in next year’s draft.

24. Washington Commanders, 2026 Draft Pick Prediction: David Bailey, EDGE, Texas Tech

Projected Win Total: 9.5

It was surprising the Commanders didn’t select an edge rusher at all in the 2025 NFL Draft.

That must change in 2026, and Bailey, who had seven sacks at Stanford last year before transferring to Texas Tech, would be a good start.

25. Cincinnati Bengals, 2026 Draft Pick Prediction: Christen Miller, DL, Georgia

Projected Win Total: 9.5

The Bengals did go defense with their first two picks, but neither was an interior defensive lineman, which many thought they might.

Miller struggled with injuries last year, but as long as he stays healthy, he should have a big year on the Georgia defense and be firmly in the mix for Round 1.

26. Los Angeles Rams, 2026 Draft Pick Prediction: Nico Iamaleava, QB, UCLA

Projected Win Total: 9.5

The Giants traded back into the first round presumably to jump ahead of the Rams, who are always lurking for a quarterback.

While he certainly didn’t do himself any favors with how he handled his NIL and subsequent transfer this offseason, Iamaleava has the physical traits that will be hard for scouts to ignore at the next level.

27. San Francisco 49ers, 2026 Draft Pick Prediction: Anthony Hill Jr, LB, Texas

Projected Win Total: 10.5

San Francisco did a nice job of replenishing all of the talent they lost on defense to free agency via the draft, but Hill is an elite talent that the Niners should still look to add on that side of the ball.

28. Detroit Lions, 2026 Draft Pick Prediction: Suntarine Perkins, EDGE, Ole Miss

Projected Win Total: 10.5

Aiden Hutchinson will hopefully make a full recovery from his injury and return to form, but either way, the Lions need to address the depth behind him, especially with some of their pending free agents in 2026.

29. Kansas City Chiefs, 2026 Draft Pick Prediction: Zxavian Harris, DL, Ole Miss

Projected Win Total: 11.5

The Chiefs need to continue to build depth behind Chris Jones, and Harris should be an integral part of the Ole Miss defensive line as he replaces Walter Nolen.

30. Baltimore Ravens, 2026 Draft Pick Prediction: Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU

Projected Win Total: 11.5

The Ravens improved their secondary by drafting Malaki Starks, but they still need to address outside corner.

Delane, who led Virginia Tech in interceptions last year before transferring to LSU, should be one of the first corners off the board.

31. Philadelphia Eagles, 2026 Draft Pick Prediction: Keon Sabb, S, Alabama

Projected Win Total: 11.5

Sabb might be talented enough for Howie Roseman to break from his tendencies of not drafting a safety in the first round, but it would stick with his Alabama and Georgia themes.

32. Buffalo Bills, 2026 Draft Pick Prediction: Jalon Kilgore, DB, South Carolina

Projected Win Total: 11.5

Kilgore can play multiple roles on defense, but his primary role of safety is what Buffalo could use the most.

Neither starting safety is signed past 2026.